Manufacture of surgical



"the glass speculum is now generally regarded YENITED STATES ATENT'rrrch GUSTAV OTTO, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO THEOELLULOID MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MANUFACTURE OF SURGICAL SPECULUMS FROM CELLULOID AND OTHER COMPOUNDS 0FPYROXYLINE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 236,615, dated January11, 1881. Application filed November 22, 1880. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV OTTO, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudsonand State of New Jersey, have ii'wented a new and useful Improvement inthe Manufacture of Surgical Speculums from Celluloid or other Oompoundof Pyroxyline, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has relation to improvements in speculums; and it consistsin providing a speculum which has all the advantages of the mostapproved kinds now in use and which is superior to any heretofore madein several important particulars. This class of instruments hasheretofore been constructed chiefly of hard rubber, metal, or glass,either cylindrical, conical, bivalve, trivalve, or otherwise, those madeof other materials having been superseded for a considerable period.

The speculum made of rubber is chiefly objectionable by reason of thefact that, being black, it absorbs the light, which materiallyinterferes with the functions of the instrument, as it prej udiciallyaifects the observation of the parts intended to be exposed. For thisreason as the most desirable, and is used to a greater extent than anyother. It is not, however, free from objections, the principal one beingthat in order to obviate the danger of its edges being broken it isnecessary to make the instrument heavy, which requires that it beconstructed with a greater exterior diameter than is desirable, besidesinvolving the necessity of immersing it in heated liquid to remove thenatural chill. This latter inconvenience does not occur in all cases,but very often happens, and is not of inconsiderable consequence.

To obviate these and other inconveniences is the object of my invention,which is effected by forming the speculumof celluloid or other compoundof pyroxyline. By this means I am enabled to produce an instrument whichis light and strong, which can be made very thin,

and which is almost free from the danger of becoming unduly cold underordinary conditions. There is scarcely a possibility of its being brokenor bent out of shape, and the character of the material is such that theinterior diameter of the instrument can be made nearly as great as itsexterior diameter, whereby the greatest exposure of the parts sought tobe examined is accomplished without undue expansion. The interiorsurface is of such 5 a character that it does not absorb the light, but,on the contrary, tends to refractit, Whereby an instrument of the mostdesirable character is provided.

The instrument will be manufactured in any convenient way, accordingtothe known method practiced in the fabrication of articles made of thematerial out of which it is formed. It will, by preference, be composedof white or transparent celluloid or other compound of pyroxyline, andits exterior surface will be highly polished to facilitate its insertionand withdrawal.

The mode of manufacture and details of construction are matters ofjudgment which need ct not be specifically explained, as they will befully understood by persons who have a knowledge of the art to which theinvention relates.

I do not limit myself to any particular mode of manufacture; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Aspeculum composed of celluloid or other compound of pyroxyline.

2. A speculum composed of celluloid or other compound of pyroxyline of acolor which will not absorb light. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in manufactures ofcelluloid or other compound of pyroxyline, as above described, I havehereunto set my hand this 12th day of November, 1880.

GUSTAV OTTO.

Witnesses:

Cats. 0. GILL, PARTS OHAHNERS.

